Toward a Cladistic View of Phytoplankton Physiological Ecology

Abstract

Advanced techniques in phytogeny reconstruction have the potential for providing new insights into phytoplankton ecology and physiology. Recent analysis of the phytogeny of algal groups has demonstrated that the traditional biological oceanographic concept of chlorophyll c containing algae (chromophytes) as a natural group is erroneous. This error can lead to problems in experimental design that can affect some models of global primary production. Cladistic analyses of character distributions can be used to identify traits that have adaptive value for ecological physiology. The prospective union of systematics and biological oceanography is threatened by a worldwide decline in the availability of training in systematics.

Keywords:

• Chromophyte algae
• cladistics
• phylogeny
• phytoplankton ecology